Polovtsian Dances from "Prince Igor"
Among the most beloved and instantly recognizable pieces in the classical repertoire, Alexander Borodin's Polovtsian Dances are a vibrant, exotic, and utterly captivating testament to his unique blend of Romanticism and Russian nationalism. While often performed as a standalone concert work, these dances are actually the dramatic centerpiece of his grand opera, Prince Igor.
The opera tells the tale of Prince Igor Svyatoslavich, a historical figure from the 12th century, who leads a campaign against the nomadic Polovtsi (also known as the Cumans). In Act II, Prince Igor and his son Vladimir have been
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Polovtsian Dances from "Prince Igor"
Among the most beloved and instantly recognizable pieces in the classical repertoire, Alexander Borodin's Polovtsian Dances are a vibrant, exotic, and utterly captivating testament to his unique blend of Romanticism and Russian nationalism. While often performed as a standalone concert work, these dances are actually the dramatic centerpiece of his grand opera, Prince Igor.
The opera tells the tale of Prince Igor Svyatoslavich, a historical figure from the 12th century, who leads a campaign against the nomadic Polovtsi (also known as the Cumans). In Act II, Prince Igor and his son Vladimir have been captured by the Polovtsian Khan Konchak. Recognizing Igor's bravery and noble character, Konchak treats his prisoners with respect and offers them freedom if Igor promises not to wage war against him again. During their captivity, Konchak entertains his guests with lavish festivities, including the very dances we are about to hear. These dances depict various aspects of Polovtsian life: the graceful movements of young maidens, the fierce warrior dances, and the thrilling general dance of all.
Borodin, a man of extraordinary talents, famously juggled his musical pursuits with a demanding career as a distinguished chemist. This dual life often led to amusing logistical challenges. His fellow composers, like Rimsky-Korsakov and Mussorgsky, would often joke about Borodin's "musical experiments" being relegated to the evenings after a full day of "chemical experiments." It's said that he would sometimes have beakers bubbling on one side of his desk while he meticulously orchestrated a new passage on the other. This delightful distraction meant that Prince Igor took him an astonishing 18 years to complete, and even then, it was left unfinished at his death. His friends, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov, no doubt with a deep affection for their absent-minded genius colleague, posthumously completed and orchestrated much of the opera, ensuring its enduring legacy.
The Polovtsian Dances themselves are a masterpiece of orchestral color and rhythmic vitality. From the seductive strains of the "Dance of the Young Maidens" to the wild abandon of the "General Dance," Borodin masterfully evokes the exotic soundscapes of the East, a fascination shared by many Russian composers of his era. It’s a work that truly allows the orchestra to shine, showcasing the individual brilliance of each section before uniting them in a glorious and exhilarating finale. Prepare to be swept away!
Program Notes
